By Priscilla Galarza/@cillaamg
Thousands of people flooded the nooks and crannies of La Villita on Sept. 12 to listen to the diverse musical styles of the accordion.
Standing on the side of The Little Church of La Villita, Susan Edel Nosal played her accordion, swaying to her own melody. Dressed in a traditional German dirndl outfit, she came to honor her German and Polish roots. Local grocery chain H-E-B sponsored Nosal’s travels from Colorado Springs, CO., to take part in the International Accordion Festival.
Nosal’s German band, Die Edelweiss Muzik, performs all over Colorado Springs. The one-time 1974 Michigan Polka Queen decided to begin playing the Italian piano accordion at age nine and has been playing ever since.
“We grew up listening to polka bands at every wedding we went to,” Nosal said. The accordion is an instrument and tradition passed from generation to generation in many European cultures.
With an Italian piano accordion in her hands, she explained her Polish and German music represented a different genre of accordion music at the festival. Her 120 bass piano accordion was made in Italy.
“There were several accordionists in my family, so when my mother asked what instrument I wanted to play and I said accordion, she didn’t bat an eye,” she said.
Edel Nosal decided to carry on the tradition of musicianship. It continued with her daughter, Kara, who began playing the Italian piano accordion in college. Although she decided to take a more modern route by covering songs by Coldplay and Billy Joel, both mother and daughter take any opportunities they get to perform together on street corners.
“I can’t let this die off with me,” Nosal said. “I’d love to come back and hit your Wurstfest in New Braunfels.”
Although Conjunto and Tejano culture is prevalent in South Texas, the International Accordion Festival represents over 40 different musical styles. The festival began in 2001 and progressed every year according to the festival website. Revenue produced by the International Accordion Festival goes back to the non-profit organization.
